ICD-10 Code A68.1 – Tick-borne relapsing fever (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code A68.1 – Tick-borne relapsing fever
What it is
A68.1 identifies tick-borne relapsing fever, a recurrent spirochetal infection transmitted by infected ticks. It causes episodes of fever that come and go, with symptom-free intervals between attacks.
Clinical signs
Typical findings include sudden fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and weakness, followed by temporary improvement and later recurrence. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation.
When to use this code
Use A68.1 when the provider documents tick-borne relapsing fever or a confirmed relapsing fever infection linked to tick exposure. It is also appropriate when the record clearly identifies the illness as this specific diagnosis. If the chart only says “fever after tick bite,” check documentation before coding.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for other tick-borne infections, nonspecific febrile illness, or relapsing fever from a different cause. If the organism or source is unclear, check documentation.
Coding tip
Look for explicit provider wording that ties relapsing fever to tick exposure before assigning A68.1.